186 Observation of the Origin of ]\irictics. 



instance, a terminal flowerhead with 56 rays had 52) on 

 the periphery and 3 inside ; while one with 74 rays had 

 58 on the circumference and 16 in the disc. In the 

 records on which were based the table on page 180 and 

 Fig. 2>2, both kinds of ligulate florets were counted to- 

 gether. The two flowers with 99 and 101 ligulate flo- 

 rets respectively were to all appearance almost entirely 

 double. 



The ''doubling" was also exhibited on the lateral 

 branches. When these were in full flower, I selected the 

 twelve best ''double" plants and pulled up the rest. The 

 lateral inflorescences of the rejected plants gave a curve 

 w^hose maximum was at 47 (= 13 -\- 34) in accordance 

 with the indications referred to above and apparent in 

 Fig. 2)2. The worst flower had only 28, the best one 

 94 rays. The average of the wdiole lot was 47; but the 

 curve, in spite of the coincidence of the mean and the 

 maximum was not symmetrical. Altogether the rays of 

 378 inflorescences were counted. 



As was to be expected, the selected seed-parents ex- 

 hibited great differences in the degree of "doubling" in 

 the lateral inflorescences. On some this was inconsider- 

 able. On others the mean was from 2-5 disc-ton <>ues 

 per inflorescence whilst on two a niean of 1 1 was counted. 

 One plant bore nothing but wdiolly double flowers. It 

 had seven flowers on which 279 disc-tongues were 

 counted, giving an average of 40. In consequence of 

 this the plant w^as absolutely sterile ; it bloomed well 

 afterwards, but in spite of every care I could not get 

 a single seed from it. But the finest specimens of C . in- 

 odorum plcnissiniuni are also known to set no seed. Like- 

 wise the two plants whose lateral flowers had on the 

 average 11 disc-tongues, set no seed. 



